Senior Director, Strategy & Operations, Wharton Undergraduate Division
University of Pennsylvania

Job Info

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Senior Director, Strategy & Operations, Wharton Undergraduate Division

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title
Senior Director, Strategy & Operations, Wharton Undergraduate Division

Job Profile Title
Director D, Student Services, Undergraduate Programs

Job Description Summary
Wharton School Overview
Founded in 1881 as the world's first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is shaping the future of business by incubating ideas, driving insights, and creating leaders who change the world. With campuses in Philadelphia and San Francisco, Wharton has over 850 staff, a faculty population of more than 235 renowned professors, and 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students. Each year, 13,000 professionals worldwide advance their careers through Wharton Executive Education's individual, company-customized, and online programs. More than 104,000 Wharton alumni form a powerful global network of leaders who transform business every day. Wharton is home to a diverse staff population representing a rich array of backgrounds, expertise, and cultures. To learn more, visit www.wharton.upenn.edu.

The Senior Director serves as a strategic partner to the Vice Dean and also with senior leaders in the Wharton Undergraduate Division. With responsibilities that intersect between a chief-of-staff type of role and a senior leader in student life / student affairs, this unique position combines strategic oversight with operational management, driving both strategic planning and day-to-day operations for the division.

As a key senior leader, the role is integral to ensuring operational excellence while enhancing the student experience. The Senior Director provides high-level leadership, leveraging data-driven decision-making and fostering collaboration across various functions within the division including academic affairs and student life.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Advisor: Act as a thought-partner to the Vice Dean and the division's senior leaders, providing critical counsel on division-wide strategies, organizational goals, and emerging challenges. Lead efforts to evaluate and adapt the division's long-term plans and foster collaboration across departments.
• Strategy: Lead the division's strategic planning process, ensuring the successful execution of key initiatives that align with both division and school-wide goals. Build and manage metrics for success, focusing on continuous improvement, outcomes, and student engagement.
• Student Life & Engagement: Oversee critical student-facing areas to enhance the overall student experience. Collaborate with student organizations and engage with student leaders to ensure that student involvement aligns with the division's broader goals.
• Operations & Financial Management: Manage a team of five direct reports, including those in student life, communications/operations, finance, equity and inclusion, and research. Foster a collaborative environment across both academic and student affairs teams, ensuring that student experience and operational efficiency are at the forefront. Oversee the division's financial management, including budget oversight, multi-year financial planning, and resource allocation.
• Process Improvement & Data Analysis: Lead operational analyses to identify opportunities for process improvement. Implement strategies that support continuous improvement across student life, operations, and strategic planning initiatives.
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including the MBA Division, External Affairs, and McNulty Leadership Program. Serve as a key liaison between the Undergraduate Division and broader Wharton and University communities to align on school-wide and university priorities.

Requirements:

A master's degree and 7-10 years of related experience is required, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience in leadership roles focused on strategy, operations, financial management, or related areas within an academic, non-profit, or related environment is required.

• Strong cover letter demonstrating knowledge of undergraduate education (business school strongly preferred). The cover letter should include specific examples of serving as a strategic advisor, leading a team, higher education trends, and/or working with student life teams.
• Experience with undergraduate college students, with a strong preference for business students.
• Proven track record of strategic planning including experience in setting measurable goals, driving initiatives, and ensuring alignment with institutional priorities.
• Experience in higher education operations, including overseeing budgeting, financial management, resource allocation, and process improvements to enhance both the student experience and operational efficiency.
• Exceptional leadership and team management skills, with the ability to supervise and mentor staff across various functions, such as student life, communications, finance, and equity and inclusion.
• Navigate and lead within a complex, dynamic environment, balancing strategic priorities with day-to-day operational demands and student-focused initiatives.

Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School
Wharton School

Pay Range
$90,860.00 - $180,000.00 Annual Rate
Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.

Affirmative Action Statement
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements
Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
  
• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
  
• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
  
• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.
  
• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, you won't have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
  
• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
  
• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
  
• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There's always something going on at Penn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you're right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
  
• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
  
• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
  
• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
  
• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.
  

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay


To apply, visit https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/upenn/careers-at-penn/job/SteinbergDietrich-Hall/Senior-Director--Strategy---Operations--Wharton-Undergraduate-Division_JR00097995









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